A conversation leads to the new `Open to Export` community forum website

February 4, 2013

Amazing where a conversation can lead – I was contacted recently about helping to promote this – I guess that is the value in being a connector!

The conversation was with one of the Community Network team who I met at an exhibition. Subsequently I am now talking to UKTI main office and am in the process of getting in contact with the locally based people who will hopefully be attending events and spreading the word about the opportunity of exporting and growing a business!

The new `Open to Export` community forum website, recently launched by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and Hibu.

The website; www.opentoexport.com is a community filled and utilised, peer-based forum, designed to be a rich source of information, advice and support to SME`s that are `thinking about` exporting, `just started` exporting and `experienced` exporters. Naturally, a reasonable number of Business Network SW members may be in any of those categories and could benefit from access to the website.

Registration as a User is totally free and it even provides new business development opportunities for interested SME`s. Content on the site can be provided by Users and/or Service Providers

Corporate Partnerships

Let’s work together. We want the best support and advice available to help small businesses in the UK export. It’d be great to have you on board no matter how big or small your contribution may be. Just register as an export service provider and you can start participating today! If it’s a corporate partnership you’re interested in, please contactworkingtogether@opentoexport.com

What Open to Export is

Open to Export is a community driven service for small and medium sized businesses, looking for help and support in exporting from the UK.

What Open to Export provides

The website provides information and advice on exporting products & services from the UK in the form of articles, events and opportunities. This content is produced and contributed by our users, partner organisations and key contributors. If you think you have some expertise or advice to offer, no matter how big or small your contribution, simply register here and start participating today.

The Open to Export Q&A

The site also hosts an interactive Q&A area, where users can ask any export-related question they have. Our community of public and private sector advisors and industry experts are on hand to provide answers and assistance. If you are seeking help with exporting, you can register here and ask the community a question.

Who is behind Open to Export

The service is delivered by hibu (UK) Ltd, in partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). With our iconic brands such as Yellow Pages and Yell.com, hibu has a rich heritage of over 45 years of connecting people looking for products and services and the businesses that provide them. We are a known and trusted partner to small and medium sized enterprises who are at the heart of communities. We help them compete in the digital world and to find markets that help them grow and succeed. For more information about hibu, visit corporate.hibu.com.

Future Site Development

hibu and UKTI want to ensure this is a community that thrives, so we have a dedicated team working together on constantly developing and enhancing the Open to Export service, to help UK businesses. What you see on the site today, is just the beginning and there is an on-going roadmap of development and features we plan to introduce. However, we still need your feedback to help shape the future of the site. Is there something missing, do you have a great idea, would you like to do more to help? Please let us know.

Open to Export – Site Development Blog

To meet the team behind Open to Export, stay up to date on the future development of the site and all the latest feature releases please visit our development blog.